Methanol Selective Oxidation to Formaldehyde over Iron-Molybdate Catalysts

This review deals with the important industrial reaction of formaldehyde manufacture by methanol oxidation over iron molybdate catalysts. Detailed reference is made to the used catalyst, preparation techniques (coprecipitation, sol-gel like, mechanical mixing, etc.) including unsupported and supported catalysts, promoters and characterization methods. The controversial active phase assignment (stoichiometric versus Mo rich iron molybdate) is discussed. The proposed reaction mechanisms and kinetic laws for the main and side reactions are examined. The catalyst deactivation processes are reviewed and the role of Mo excess on these processes is underlined. Finally conclusions and perspectives are presented.     

HumanTop: a multi-object tracking tabletop

In this paper, a computer vision based interactive multi-touch tabletop system called HumanTop is introduced. HumanTop implements a stereo camera vision subsystem which allows not only an accurate fingertip tracking algorithm but also a precise touch-over-the-working surface detection method. Based on a pair of visible spectra cameras, a novel synchronization circuit makes the camera caption and the image projection independent from each other, providing the minimum basis for the development of computer vision analysis based on visible spectrum cameras without any interference coming from the projector. The assembly of both cameras and the synchronization circuit is not only capable of performing an ad-hoc version of a depth camera, but it also introduces the recognition and tracking of textured planar objects, even when contents are projected over them. On the other hand HumanTop supports the tracking of sheets of paper and ID-code markers. This set of features makes the HumanTop a comprehensive, intuitive and versatile augmented tabletop that provides multitouch interaction with projective augmented reality on any flat surface. As an example to exploit all the capabilities of HumanTop, an educational application has been developed using an augmented book as a launcher to different didactic contents. A pilot study in which 28 fifth graders participated is presented. Results about efficiency, usability/satisfaction and motivation are provided. These results suggest that HumanTop is an interesting platform for the development of educational contents.     

A web-based platform for biosignal visualization and annotation

With the advent of wearable sensing and mobile technologies, biosignals have seen an increasingly growing number of application areas, leading to the collection of large volumes of data. One of the difficulties in dealing with these data sets, and in the development of automated machine learning systems which use them as input, is the lack of reliable ground truth information. In this paper we present a new web-based platform for visualization, retrieval and annotation of biosignals by non-technical users, aimed at improving the process of ground truth collection for biomedical applications. Moreover, a novel extendable and scalable data representation model and persistency framework is presented. The results of the experimental evaluation with possible users has further confirmed the potential of the presented framework.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of (R)-1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5]undecane [major component of olive fruit fly (Dacus Oleae) sex pheromone] from d-Fructose

The synthesis of the title compound13 has been carried out through the preparation of its precursor, (3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (6), obtained fromd-fructose using Wittig's methodology, reduction, and spiroketalation. Compound6 was transformed into13 by a Barton deoxygenation at C-5 followed by a Corey dideoxygenation at C-3,4 of the appropriately protected derivatives.Enantiospecific synthesis of spiroacetals. Part II. For Part I, see Izquierdo and Plaza (1990).     

Modified Indigo Method For Gaseous And Aqueous Ozone Analyses

The indigo method developed by Bader and Hoigné for aqueous ozone analysis was modified to allow for both gaseous and aqueous ozone determination. Gas or water samples were extracted with a gas-tight syringe containing a known volume of indigo reagent. The modified procedure provided a more consistent basis for gaseous and aqueous ozone determination allowing for more accurate ozone mass balance calculations. Direct gaseous ozone UV absorbance with molar absorptivity of 3,000 M^?1cm^?1 at 258 nm was used as primary standard to determine the molar absorptivity of the indigo reagent. The molar absorptivity of indigo reagent, assuming a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio for the reaction between indigo and ozone, was determined to be 23,150 ± 80 M^?1cm^?1, or approximately 16 percent higher than that of 20,000 M^?1cm^?1 suggested by Bader and Hoigné. An independently calibrated membrane-electrode ozone monitor showed good correlation with indigo method results using the molar absorptivity value determined in this study. The apparent molar absorptivity of aqueous ozone at the wavelength of 258 nm measured by the modified indigo method increased from 2,400 to 3,600 M^?1cm^?1 in the investigated ozone concentration range of 0.4 to 11.0 mg/L. This variation might have been caused by the inherent interference of unidentified ozone byproducts, which presence was supported with scanning spectra in the wavelength range of 200 to 300 nm.     

Influence of processing on ethylene propylene block copolymers (II): Fracture behavior

The present work investigates the relationships between the microstructural state and fracture properties in commercial polypropylene‐based materials. In this case an isopolypropylene homopolymer and three ethylene propylene block copolymers (EPBC) with different ethylene content (EC) have been studied. A variety of morphologies were obtained by a combination of several processing methods (injection molding, injection molding‐annealing, and compression molding) and thickness. Fracture behavior of deeply double‐edged notched specimens was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by the essential work of fracture (EWF) method, analyzing the influence of processing, thickness (t), EC, and orientation respect to melt flow direction (MD and TD). The testing direction and EC are the most relevant variables that affect the ability of the crack tip to deform plastically during the crack propagation, determining the final fracture behavior. The fracture parameters obtained with the EWF method, specific EWF, w_e, and plastic item, βw_p, have proved to be very sensitive to the processing induced morphology, finding interesting relationships between such morphologies (characterized by crystallinity index, orientation level, and skin/core ratio) and the fracture parameters of the plaques. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2714–2724, 2006     

Nutritional recovery of mild and moderately malnourished children under two different treatment approaches (ambulatory versus day-care)

This retrospective analysis was conducted between May 1997 and May 2000 at the Centro de Atención Nutricional Infantil de Antímano, CANIA, in Caracas, Venezuela to assess the efficacy of two treatments (ambulatory versus day-care) of mild and moderate malnourished children. Inclusion criteria were: children under 10 years old with mild and moderate malnourishment, who attended a minimum of 3 control visits during a period of 12 months. One hundred fourteen malnourished children were included: fifty seven in ambulatory treatment and fifty seven in day-care treatment paired per nutritional diagnosis, gender and age (thirty nine mild and eighteen moderate malnourished children). The nutritional recovery criterion was weight for height above tenth percentile. No relation was found between treatment approaches and nutritional recovery at 3 and 6 months of treatment. In the group of mild malnourished children, the percentage of recovered patients at 3 months of treatment, that kept their recovered condition at 6 months was 83% (15/18) in the ambulatory treatment and 82% (18/22) in the day-care treatment Age of children, associated disease, acute morbidity, dietetic risk and mother's education and age were not associated with nutritional recovery at 6 months of treatment (p > 0.05). The day-care approach resulted as effective as ambulatory in mild malnourished children. In moderate malnourished new studies will need to be conducted with greater number of patients.     

Study of operating variables in the transformation of aqueous ethanol into hydrocarbons on an HZSM‐5 zeolite

With the aim of determining the possibilities of directly upgrading the liquid obtained from carbohydrate fermentation, the effect of operating conditions (temperature, space time, water content in the feed) has been studied in the catalytic transformation of aqueous ethanol into hydrocarbons on an HZSM‐5 zeolite in an isothermal fixed bed reactor. Special attention has been paid to the effect of water content on the yield, product distribution and catalyst deactivation. Although deactivation by coke decreases as the water content is increased, this content must be limited at 450 °C and higher temperatures in order to avoid irreversible deactivation of the catalyst by dealumination. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Modèles Hydrodynamiques pour la Séparation des Courants dans un Décanteur Pilote

Despite of its general use in industry, particle sedimentation is still a not well understood unit operation. Hydrodynamics is complex in essence, mainly because the possible volumes are depending on the operating conditions, which in turn has consequences on the stability of the equipment in unsteady state conditions.     

On Hypotheses Testing for the Selection of Spatio‐Temporal Models

Abstract. Several models have been proposed in recent years for analysing spatial data and also, to some extent, spatio‐temporal data. One of the important problems, namely the choice of an appropriate model for describing real data sets, remains unsolved. Here we consider the analysis of spatio‐temporal processes from which observations over space and time are available. We propose statistical tests for discriminating between space–time autoregressive processes and multivariate autoregressive processes. The sampling properties of the proposed tests are considered. We illustrate the methods with a real example. We use the above tests to find the best model to describe spatio‐temporal variations of hourly carbon monoxide measurements at four locations in London in January 2004.